Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-24
NEW YORK LETTER.
rHRHArs GATHERED UP By GOTHAM
c0RRgspos pgsfs.
An old Detective and Els Exploits Ken
Who Court Eotosiety-ocsan
Drummer.
,co,rospondence Of tho Rlchmond Dispatch.I

NtW iOhhf Alih @-'s 1'p'.
A man Of about the medium height
nxty.two or sixty-thrce years OF age,
with fat nose. in q derby hat and very
plainly dressed, is one OF the figures
,!aily seen entering the Sub-Treasury,
the stately building with Doric pillars
in Wall street on the site OF the old
ball in which Washington, IN brown
small clothes, white stockings, and sill
ycr-bucklcd shoes. took tae oath OF
CN,ce ns the first lresidento OF the United
Statcs. The plain old man who attracts
so little attention in the busy thrOng oil
wall strcCt, and who sits quiet as a
stone i'm tho tOmh-like treasure-house,
los had an Cven;iul lite. IL is Cap
tsin Thomas Sampson, the Sub-Treamry
detective. His present position Is al
most s;nccure, though ne looks care
fully aftcrwhatcyer duIies devolve upon
him. Hc made name for himself as
far back as the days Of Alderman Jacob
Hayes. the first sheriff OF New York
or high constable, as the Office was then
called. This was ia the period extend
ing from about 1850 10 1875. Hayes
was the first officer IN New YORK to 90
about detecting crime Systematically,
using his experience az sheriff and
his personal acquaintance with crlmi-
pals. he died about 1850, and then
Thomas Sampson became the famous
detective OF New York. In 1851 the cele-
Erntcl pugilisi ana ruilian, Bill Poole,
was killed, Poole was al American
aLS tie champion OF the American
roUghs Of the city, rs John MOTri,ey
Was The leader OF a similar gang Of
irisbnon. Both political parties pro-
tocttd these Tufiians because Of the ser
vices which they performed on election.
day. They were the "plug uChcs OF
old Now York, a disgrace 10 toe city
ard tie terror of respectable citizens.
NL,n not Pou ing ont eyes, biting or
noses and ears, CT engaged in rough
giG-tUMhie encounters or prize.f fights,
10y were CarousiEQ in the low sl'Oon3
ri the day. PHI Poole had fought
Ilizc-fglts, but had won no par
,iculsr distinction in this diroc.
ton. He was tall and powerfully
luilt. ard he was better adapted for
lou.hand tumble encounters Hewts
lo.d aud aggressive, and the feud he
tyttu the Americans and the Irish be
cane So bitter that somc OF Morrsey's
I,,l,Is determined 10 murder him.
T,olc was generally accompanied in hi,
travels around the city by crowd OF
i.s followers. but one day late in 1857
Ic happened 10 be nearly or quite
a.,u, cn one Of the North river pIcgs
AID some OF NorriSey's men picked q
,.a4r,l with him and inflicted fatal
wound. lie died q few days later, say
.I,: FL ole true american. Now
,t.o an opportunity Tor Detective
s..iecn 10 further distinguish him
,.- % hc Gang that had attacked Poole
,,!talcI themselves until vessel
,. lc chartered to take them 10 t1a
M.o,ll Stands. Sampson, by some
mysterious means, learned their fight
g.d tLur destination and the mayor
u4upon sent a fast vessel ia pursuit,
which overlook the other craft about
i.iGu miles out. Captain Sampson,
VIC WIS on the pursuing vessel, az
l,s.,d Lewis Baker. anactOr, asthc prin-
,i.l as-uilsLt, and brought him back
a. New York. He was tried, but it was
.rIo-sinlc 90 prove that he committed
t.c murder, and he was accordingly
a,cudtcd OF this charge, bat vas
,It 10 prison as an accOmplice.
bhr his release Baker became
cutie prominent rs r. trleedian Nr.
Samusou's reputation steadily increased
NATL about 1860, when he resignc,
nom the police force, having been en-
.seod hy Now ork bankers "A, salary
a.. al ont 81, 0OJ IL year to protect th-.r
uil,sts in Wall street. re has r.
cuucG millions OF dollars worth Of
st0n securtics for financial iustitu-
tons. Le arrested Edgar Gray, the
rr,r. Hc went twice TO London -
>orue this remarkable criminal, whose
tI.rt- would have wol HIM perhaps =
f-lr.o OF millions if ne could have d.
voted himself e. some honorable bIs,-
a,s.
l,vmn have received more tasti-
l.,ui.f, Of confidence and esteem thAl
Ill, larce-L,arted old detective, who
l.irht have uecn wealthy to-day ii lie
lad lot been oyer-iiberal in his bene-
factions 10 the needy. He hes mora
Dam two dozen watches, presented to
I.u iv bausIe, and enough gold and
silver late 10 st up a small lewelry
store Tor so.ae years he has been III
tlcs,J.ce oi the United ctates Gov
Irurit. Tie ARRESTED john Surratt,
cLuccc with completely III the murder
Clll,st,htLiucom. s;nIr1tt was lust
It.rla lis mothers house in WASH
IretDu dressed IL a nottingham with a
ucla.e over his shoulder. Seen on
The Nn,c. the vetGan detective might
let..tu lor an old clerk IN a mercan-
d., ..'.c.
'.-. Ul;O COURT NOrO-acTT.
rlG. mc thousands OF men in New
lc.4 N!o tairly live and wax lat upon
r.v-Hsr notofiety. Their sole am
tt.a seems to be to nave their name
la il'it. lLo1 one prominent ant
t,..v citizen Of this place who actu-
a.t,,l. ads as ouch money in achieving
g.. object 49, De docs .Cr all his osiler
,.41stN OF course, aside from us
tllE gratifying to attain notouety,
t., icros that it viii also give him
fculrity. There are many CON
n'Aun and even United States
t,Dstor. WHO are seldom heard OF
IL Washington, Who, by making
iiip 10 New York, manage to get
tlt:r names into the papers anu New
York. being the great centre OF news, 1t
IssnaCes 10 ind its way Into print In
all over the country. Some
of these people. knowing that their
Nl.ws are Of no value, and that no one
would care 10 PRINT them, much less
read them. are willing 30 be subjected
20 r.dicule IN ordor that story may be
written about them. know OF one
belonging 10 the PACING
coast whose private secretary wrote a
story that ] considered too uncompll-
mentaIy TO PRINT When IT was offered
TO ne. and ! afterwards discovered
t8at the Senator was cognIzant
OF the fact. For several years 1t has
IoCu ny source Of livelihood to write
fletch,s about prominent people who
GENE 10 New York, and it is surprising
10 see how many want to class them
al